Have they found a way to get uninsured drivers off the road?

I'm about the biggest bleeding heart that you're going to find, but I can't stand people who drive around with no car insurance. The facts back me up: Uninsured drivers cost Missourians about $90 million per year. And they're much more likely to get involved in fatal wrecks. Unfortunately, it's been tough to get them off the road -- police usually don't discover they're uninsured until something else happens, like, say, a wreck.

The Columbia Tribune has a piece about a guy who's come up with a plan where drivers would have another decal on their cars to indicate, yes, they have insurance. It'd let police tell, at a glance, who's breaking the law.

Comments

[BrianVincent]

How does this "work"? One can become uninsured after only a missed payment, so the decals would "expire" after only a month?

[Sic semper tyrannis]

Gee, why don't we just let the government own all the cars and, when we want to use one, ask Mom and Dad for the keys?

[jeano]

People would just come up with counterfeit decals. What's the point? It won't make people get insurance if they don't want it or can't afford it anyway.

[Searching]

People would steal the decals, and then legitimate drivers would be forced to go and pay/get another one.
Somehow, in parking wars, that state knows the minute you are terminated. Why dont we just ask them how they do it.

[D-man]

Or it will be something else for people to steal. It would be cheaper for the insurance companies to red flag the DMV when a policy is cancelled or terminated. But that would open up a whole new chain of what if's and more laws.

[Chuck Rizzo]

Yeah what happens a lot is that someone will get insurance for when they get the car registered then drop it immediatly.

One thing that would help a lot would be a NO PAY NO PLAY LAW. That would mean that in order to collect any monies in an accident one would have to have valid inurance. Louisanna has this law an it helped with their uninsured motorists. In MO they were trying to pass a No Pay no Play but it would only bar recovery for general damages in injury accidents (pain and suffering) but they could still collect for vehicle damage.

[Patrick]

I use to sell auto insurance, and the biggest problem is the rates and ALL the reasons insurance companies will NOT insure a person, or drop a person after coverage with paid premium. Insurance companies charge excessive rates and base rates on driving history, age, medical condition, bankrutpcy,and the list goes on and on. I stopped selling insurance because I didn't like the policy of taking back my commission if the insured missed or dropped any single payment during the 6 months. Yep worked for FREE, but had office expenses. Auto insurance should be for the driver, and cover only the drive and his vehical. If one has NO insurance, and is injured in a wreck, it is their loss. Yes some companies even have odd policies about if the policy is for the vehical, or the driver. Avoid paying claims and collecting premiums is the insurance industry.

[Paddy O'Furniture]

Insurrance companies, banks, and the federal government are the biggest crooks this nation has to offer.

[JewwellsP]

Easy fix, all driver's & all cars should be tied into a SR22 system. Connect insurance computer to state computer. How hard could it be?

In Florida all vehicles have SR22, if the insurance drop's, a computer sends out a statement saying either provide proof or here is an envelope to return your car tags & driver's license. If not returned in 10 days a warrant is issued. If this happens 3 times in 1 year, your license is suspended.
M.I.L. says it is still a problem down there, but nothing like other places they have lived.

[Searching]

I like jewells plan.

[kctruth]

1st offense: $500 fine, 6 mo loss of license

2nd offense: $2,500 fine, permanent loss of license, 6 mo in jail

3rd offense: $10,000 fine, 5 years in jail, no parole

4th offense? you got to be kidding!

[Chuck Rizzo]

Insurance is a fickle thing. But it's not a charity it's a business. I know that if my house burned down I don't have the money in the bank to cover rebuilding it or replace my contents. Same with my car. I don't have the money on hand to pay for a ferari if I damage one. I kinda chuckle when someone calls insurance company's crooks. True they aren't bleeding hearts or cash dispensory's but I've seen 40k + payments go out to people who had no chance in hell in raising that much money to pay for a loss.

[quixotic]

Didn't some state have pay-at-the-pump insurance, in which a tax on gasoline was used to finance liability insurance for all drivers?

Does anyone know how that worked out?

[me]

Have they found a way to get uninsured drivers off the road?

I have a GOOD ANSWER: Put their ass in jail. They're breaking the law. Take a bus,I did for years. I got hit once and took the gal to court and won!
I don't feel sorry for anyone who gets caught. If they put someone in the hospital they can't pay your bill!

[Tam]

As an Independent Insurance Agent, I recommend to everyone out there to "shop" your insurance at regular intervals. All companies fluctuate on their rates, usually on an annual basis. And to those who complain about the cost of premiums...There are companies out there offering 6 month Liability only policies for as little as $89. There is no excuse for not having coverage.

[cac]

Maybe they can start insurance check points like the DUI's... might as well intrude on our rights some more...

I also get frustrated with the uninsured, but what can you do! Just like every other thing in the world!! Next, we will have a war tax and then an insurance tax...

For those of us working and paying taxes, we already feed the poor and give them free medical care, seems we are also paying for thier insurance or lack of! It isn't missourians paying for it, it is the working middle class paying for them!

[Nelson]

Don't worry about it, Uncle Obama will insure everyone.

[Kate]

Today you choose to feed your children or pay insurance. What do you choose? Have you ever had to make a choice like that?

[Tim]

I think we should go with a no fault plan state or country wide. Your insurance covers only you and your property so if you get hit or you hit someone then your insurance pays for your injurys and property damage. If you dont have any then your just SOL..

[Chuck Rizzo]

Yeah Kate don't drive. Because you could be taking food off someone elses table if you do and damage their vehicle.

[Rasputin]

The insurance company can become obligated to notify the secretary of state when a policy is cancelled for non-payment. The police pick up the tags.

[me]

Today you choose to feed your children or pay insurance. What do you choose? Have you ever had to make a choice like that?

I have another answer: TAKE THE BUS!!!

[Mickey Mouse]

"For those of us working and paying taxes, we already feed the poor and give them free medical care, seems we are also paying for thier insurance or lack of! It isn't missourians paying for it, it is the working middle class paying for them!"

Yes, and upon recent discovery, if your last name happens to be a latino origin you somehow get more $$$ in benefits than the average white or black joe...

Go figure...

[Tom K]

Those of us who want to force this burden on people should pay for it. Of course, suggesting that people pay for their illusion of safety gives them a route towards legitimizing the quest.

[Don Birkholz]

Let's see, the decal will say the vehicle is insured. What if the driver is "borrowing" the car and is not supposed to be driving it? That is still driving without insurance and every car in the state could have the decal and everyone could still be driving without insurance.

A food stamp survey done in Billings, MT, showed 12 of the 96 food stamp applicants said auto insurance was a reason for needing food stamps. (http://www.foodstampstudy.com)

If you find out how many are on food stamps due to mandatory atuto insurance, they would probably get rid of these laws.

[Tom K]

I was just thinking that if they implement this I should also get an armband to wear.